I started my adventure on the net reading about the late jazz pianist joe sample and one thing lead to another and another. Here is a gritty home recording of booker playing in europe, 1978. He always dressed in somber colors and wore a black eyepatch over his left eye to preserve his vision, although he was almost blind in that eye. View of james booker 19391983 performing on an outdoor stage at the 1978 new orleans jazz and heritage festival. To charles neville and many others, ringo did it, thus the star on the black patch he wore. The two had known each other since the 1950s, often working together in cosimo matassas new orleans studios with dave bartholomew. November 1983 ebenda, mit burgerlichem namen james carroll booker iii, war ein. James booker must be one of the greatest musicians to have struck the ivory in the past century. The truth about how he had lost an eye along the way with stories. Booker claimed to have lost his eye to starr in a fight, but a more believable reason for his animosity surfaces during the film.
The star on his eye patch supposedly referred to ringo. James booker was hands down the greatest new orleans piano player ever a junkie and excon, the late james booker was also the epitome of crescent city keyboard artistry. Known as the piano prince of new orleans, the eye patch wearing, flamboyantly dressed entertainer who walked with a limp from. Paul cebar, the eternal rock n roll tourist chicago. James carroll booker iii december 17, 1939 november 8, 1983 was a new orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist born in new orleans, louisiana, united. James booker performing true at the montreux jazz festival in 1978. And he had some aviator sunglasses, and where the eye patch would go, he had glitter on his sunglasses.
Photographer j ames carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel, boogiewoogie, blues, traditional and modern jazz, and classical music into a unique and breathtaking sound. A shirt for all those who know the genius of james booker and his iconic eye patch. A new documentary captures him right down to his glittering eye patch. James booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc rolling. Known as the piano prince of new orleans, the eyepatchwearing. Known as the piano prince of new orleans, the eye patch wearing, flamboyantly. Booker was known as the black liberace of his time 3 posted by jae jones august 1, 2018 black men, latest posts, music james carroll booker iii was an american rhythm and blues musician who was born in new orleans, louisiana. I saw james booker perform in a little hole in the wall bar in 1983 new orleans. The tragic genius of james booker lily keber 20 ask jazz fans outside of new orleans if they have heard of james booker and most will lean back, rub their chin and say they know they have heard the name. Ringo did it, thus the star on the black patch he wore. This is an excerpt from the recently released documentary, bayou maharajah, which i. A junkie and excon, the late james booker was also the epitome of crescent city keyboard artistry. James booker was partial to wearing an eye patch and would often roll up to.
James booker with jerry garcia band appreciation new. James booker was hands down the greatest new orleans piano. The story behind his lost eye varies, depending on who tells it. He told kent taylor he lost it in angola, but would not say how. It was visible at the bottome of the eye patch that there were some bandages showing and a small cut peeking out from the patch. With increasing frequency, the life, music, and mystique of pianist james booker are asserting their presence again in our consciousness. Cajun, far from home, at the gumbo bros the new york times. President barack obama meets with speechwriter cody keenan, who dressed as a pirate for an oval office photo taken for use in the presidents humorous speech to the white house correspondents association dinner may 9, 2009. Booker claimed to have lost his left eye in a brawl with a former bodyguard to ringo starr. Run by locals, dirty coast has coined such notable. Piano legend james booker stands out as a somewhat solitary but absolutely unique figure in the. Adorned in a dashing array of eye patches, james booker s problems had little to do with a physical disability, though it seems unlikely that it could have helped. He had this album propped up on the piano while he played to a very small crowd, yet he played as if he were playing to thousands of people. What happened to his left eye was always a matter or speculation, but the story was that he.
Inside, a golden football helmet with a fleurdelis overlooks portraits of napoleon, hand thrust inside waistcoat, and the blues pianist james booker, called the bayou maharajah, in eye patch. In another scene, those interviewed discuss how booker lost his eye, which he covered with his signature staradorned eye patch. Behind the keys james booker, the clown prince of new. The day before the gig, booker met the bandscanlan, web burrell on drums and squirrel on congasfor the first time for rehearsal. Obviously flamboyantly gay, hes got this huge wig on and the eye patch. James booker enjoyed playing music, and he did it as well as anyone. Earlier this year a couple of readers alerted me to an electronic curiosity making the rounds. Never far from the surface, booker s keyboard prowess and legendary character is churning the rapids and redirecting the currents in the vast river that is the culture and music of new orleans. Just saw him on stage tonight in paris with brad and glad to find out here that the eye patch he was wearing is due to a recent bout with bells palsy. He is seen wearing a lightcolored vest and pants with a. James booker, who died in 1983 at the age of 43, was a genius of jazz piano, one of those musicians other musicians speak of with awe.
James booker, who died in 1983 at the age of 43, was a genius. James booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc. A brilliant pianist, his eccentricities and showmanship belied a life of struggle and isolation. New orleans piano genius james booker died 30 years ago at 43 but he. Jazz piano genius james bookers mysterious knoxville. I was very impressed by his guitar and keyboard playing. If mojo dont love you baby, then grits aint groceries, eggs aint poultries, an mona lisa was a man. The 40 most influential musicians from louisiana music. He was calling from dans greenhouse, a liquor store. Jazz piano genius james bookers mysterious knoxville concert. Ladies racer back tank of the rare james booker tri star eye patch.
Still i go back to james booker, his heartbreaking voice, impossible left hand, and iconic photos with that full on fro and eye patch. Professor longhairs likeness hangs over the acura stage as the officially chosen spiritual progenitor of jazz and heritage, but another new orleans piano man who made his comeback around the same time as fess could just as easily occupy that mantle. So booker shows up and hesman, hes kinda crazy, scanlan chuckles. Booker, the bay and finally the truth about how he lost. Irony abounds in the sweet, almost decorous stamp the hot 8 players bring as rhythm section to the blind boys of alabama as. When, in classified booker sings i know its real what this one light lets me see he alternately owns his incomplete fenestration and, courageously, minimizes it as a limitation. John described booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced. Booker s stage presence started becoming more eccentric also, wearing wigs, capes, eye patches and even a glass eye for his missing left orb. James caroll booker iii james carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel, boogiewoogie, blues, traditional and modern jazz, and classical music into a unique and breathtaking sound. For instance, it seems that booker wore his starred eye patches as a dig at ringo starr. James carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel. He was a oneeyed, drugaddicted piano genius who wore a wig stuffed with marijuana and once held a gun to his head on stage now a new film tells james booker s extraordinary story.
Dirty coast press shirt womens small the booker patch see more. Booker s unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. At some point these pics popped up and there was this guy with an eye patch. Yeah, thats right, thats what my man the late james booker used to sing in all around the world while wearing that sexy eye patch with the star on it. He affixed a star to his eye patch to remind people. He was a oneeyed, drugaddicted piano genius who wore a wig stuffed with marijuana and once held a gun to his head on. Internationally revered piano genius james booker spent time. The blind boys downhome approach is a far cry from james booker, with that star emblazoned on his eye patch and godknowswhat in the way of chemicals coursing through his veins, all but singing for his own redemption. New orleans piano patches coast culture city music prints inspiration.
He was in front of there at 5 in the morning with an overcoat and no socks and a hat bag. A striking presence, wearing an eye patch, outlandish attire and boasting a personality that could win over any crowd, it was the talent in james booker s fingers that left audiences talking. He had about 30 eye patches and eight or nine wigs. James carroll booker iii december 17, 1939 november 8, 1983 was a new orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist born in new orleans, louisiana, united states. Ladies racer back booker eye patch tank mapleleafbar. See iconic new orleans jazz fest moments through the lens. The jerry garcia band with james booker, january 910, 1976. Happy birthday james booker, clown prince of new orleans.